8. Edward Elric was never one to give up easily. Roy felt nearly useless next to him- his sharp, golden eyes raced across the page, devourig two, sometimes three, books an hour. Roy sometimes would lower the report he was reading over and just stare at the boy. Sometimes, he would catch a placid moment where Ed was still and quiet, legs drawn up to his chest, hand in his hair a sense of calm serenity about him. Roy had never seen Edward like this before- it was a somewhat sombering experience.

But even the most patient and determined of induviduals has their limits. Althought Ed was determined, he could hardly be called patient by any stretch of the imagination. His limit seemed to be a week of fruitless searching (even more fruitless in Roy's case since he had no background in the art of soul transmutation. His specialty was elements and chemicals- affixing spirits and memories to an object was a tad to exstenstential for him). Ed's moods grew darker as the days passed and Roy had grown used to coming home and seeing yellow eyes glare at him, cat like, from the living room as he passed through the hallway. Usually he left well enough alone, but tonight he carefully undid his coat and softly slipped into the living room, taking a seat on the couch opposite of Ed.

The blonde didn't look up from his book on chemical transmutation until he heard the twin clinks of bottle and glass hit the table between them. He watched Roy through unnervingly alert eyes as the man slowly poured himself a shot of vodka. His eyes followed the glass and took in the arch of Roy's neck as he knocked back the shot. Roy sighed, savouring the warm burn of liquor, and poured himself another, aware that Edward's gaze was still burning into the top of his head. The next time the glass hit the table, Ed grabbed for it and messily poured himself a drink that ended up half spilt across the table.

"Edward-"

"What?" Ed growled, lifting the glass to his face. Roy could almost hear him snarling- 'C'mon Colonel. I dare you to tell me no.' Instead the boy narrowed his eyes and said, "I've been old enough to drink for some time now." and knocked the shot back in one jerky movement.

Roy had to restrain his laughter when the young man heaved forwards, coughing and sputtering in disgusted shock. He slammed the glass down on the table hard.

"That's... shit. Why didn't you warn me?"

Roy smirked and knitted his fingers together, "Well, I assumed that you knew what you were doing."

"Fuck... we couldn't have afforded alcohol that potent if I had sold my automail. Fucking inflation." Ed swayed a bit, but he poured himself another glass anyways. This one went down easier than the first, but not nearly as easy as the next one did.

If it had been anyone else, Roy probably would have stopped them after the fourth shot. However, he found himself strangely mesmerized by the methodical way Edward was throwing back the shots and strangely interested in the way the young man's eyelids were beginning to droop against his will as red rose in his cheeks. After nine and a half shot (far more than any inexperience drinker should have even considering drinking), Ed stood up. And fell back down. He closed his eyes, massaged his temples and muttered something under his breath before standing again. This time he managed to walk (though it was more like extravagent falling) towards Roy's couch and all of a sudden Roy found himself with Edward Elric collapsed in his lap, hands fisting in his uniform.

Confused (and a little curious), Roy watched Edward watch him through half lidded eyes. He felt Ed tangle a flesh hand in his hair and he saw the look of raw intent on the blond's face, but he was somehow still surprised when when Edward leaned forwards and pressed their lips. It was clumsy, it was chaste, but it was Edward and Roy found himself momentarily speechless when the boy pulled away. He took in slow, even breaths and reminded himself, several times, that Edward was very, very drunk.

"Edward." he asked slowly after a moment, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to seduce you." Edward answered easily, as if it were the obvious answer. His voice slurred thick with alcohol, breath so strong with vodka that it made Roy dizzy, "It would go a lot smoother if you'd do something. I've never exactly done this before." his tone was annoyed and Roy wondered at the audacity of the boy as Ed leaned in for another kiss.

Roy pushed him away, "Edward." he repeated firmly, "What are you doing?"

Ed groaned and slumped backwards, his automail leg digging painfully into Roy's thigh. His eyes stared at the far wall with a hazy, unfocused glaze as they attempted to avoid looking at Roy, "I had... these dreams." he made a fustrated noise and tipped like he was going to fall over. Roy reached out and caught his wrist. "Listen," Ed continued blearily, "When you don't think you're ever going to see your home again there's nothing wrong with just dreaming. I-" he inhaled deeply and flowed forwards, flattening his body against Roy's out of pure fatigue rather than any sort of sexual advance. He spoke softly, ungaurded as his breath whispered hotly against Roy's neck, "This isn't my home anymore, y'know Colonel. Everything is different... it's..." a pause. Edward's body was so still that Roy wondered if he had fallen asleep. He was about to move Ed off of him when the boy's hand clenched at his collar, dragging him back down, "Dammnit, this is my only opportunity to get you out of my fucking system."

Roy closed his eyes for a long, still moment and ignored the warmth of Edward's body. This had honestly been one of the last things he had expected when he accepted the young man into his house. In all honesty, he should have almost been expecting it.

'You know, Sir, it seems as if young Edward has quite the crush on you.' 'Mmm? What makes you say something like that, Leutenient?' 'Oh, nothing.' a knowing grin. 'Nothing?' '... well, Sir, what are you going to do about it?' 'What can I do? He's only fifteen years old.' And Hawkeye shot him a sidelong glance, 'Colonel, I meant are you going to say anything to him? Try to discourage him?' A shrug, 'He's just a child, Hawkeye. He'll grow out of it.'

Roy made his decision. He scopped Edward into his arms and rose, momentarily staggered by Ed's surprising weight until he remembered the automail. It was embarassing, Roy supposed, for the young alchemist to be carried like a child, and if Ed were sober Roy had no doubt that he would be lying on the floor bleeding by now.

"What are you doing?"

"You're drunk, Edward. I'll sleep on the couch tonight. You need-"

"Dammnit!" Ed twisted violently and Roy lost his balance as the young man struggled free. Before Roy could regain his balance a fist connected sloppily with his chin and he fell back against the wall, only to be pinned there by strong hands, "I'm not a child anymore, Mustang. Seven years have passed for me too, but everyone just treats me the same as before I left. I didn't just disappear off the face of the fucking planet! I-" his voice rose and fell with every breath that heaved in his chest. Roy measured his next words carefully

"Is that what this is about, Edward?" he asked softly, "Trying to prove to me that you're an adult? You don't need to-"

"Stop being a stupid shit, Colonel!" Ed hissed, the cold title slipping off his tongue like instinct. "This is about me knowing what the fuck I want! You're still talking to me like I'm a child- well guess what? I've had seven long years to think this through. I know what I want! I know who I want. I'm not as confused as you think I am."

Ed's color was high, his eyes were wild and his hair tussled as static energy twitched through his wiry body like a live wire. He was really something else, Edward Elric- an undefinable creature who burned like a star even though it was obvious from the hollowness in his face that he was running on empty. The hunger in his eyes was almost overwhelming and Roy could almost taste the ache. No woman had ever looked at him that way.

Nevertheless, Roy relaxed his shoulders and spoke heavily, "Did you ever consider, Edward, that perhaps I wouldn't want you in the same way you want me?"

His words hung in the air between them. Ed's eyes widened and his jaw fell open as several things clicked into place in his brain. His face darkened in embarassment and he snapped his mouth shut again, his lips broadening in a wickedly bitter grin as he let his hands slide down Roy's arms in defeat. His eyelashes hid his eyes in the dim hallway's light.

"I... I'm..." he shook his head and laughed brokenly, "I'm really drunk." Forget this ever happened"

He turned, bracing himself on the wall, and began to stumble back towards the living room. Roy only watched him for a moment before he moved to catch the young man's arm.

"Edward, wait."

Ed's muscels tightened under Roy's hand though he made no move to stop the older man from running long fingers through his hair, pulling it loose. It cascaded down his back, thick and dark gold. It almost reminded Roy of... almost reminded him of Riza

He cut the thought off before it could finish and yanked his hands away from Edward as if the boy were made of hot coals. "I'm sorry Edward." he murmered. He was certain that Edward was past the point of caring.